Rack Assembly that can be Folded Partially

ABSTRACT

A rack assembly includes a framework, and a foldable shelf mounted on the framework. The foldable shelf includes a main body provided with two support posts, an adjustable panel having two opposite ends each pivotally connected with a respective one of the support posts by one of two first pivot members, and two connecting plates each having an upper end pivotally connected with a respective one of the opposite ends of the adjustable panel by one of two second pivot members and having a mediate portion a lower end formed with a sliding slot pivotally connected with a respective one of the support posts by one of two third pivot members. Thus, the foldable shelf is expanded outward for use with a user and is folded when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture and, more particularly, to a rack assembly to place an appliance, such as a television, DVD, computer and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional rack assembly can be used to place an appliance, such as a television, DVD, computer and the like to facilitate a user placing and exhibit the appliance. However, the conventional rack assembly has a fixed volume and cannot be folded to have a smaller volume when not in use, thereby increasing the cost of packaging, storage and transportation of the rack assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rack assembly, comprising a framework, and a foldable shelf mounted on the framework. The foldable shelf includes a main body provided with two upright support posts, an adjustable panel having two opposite ends each pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts of the main body by one of two first pivot members, and two connecting plates each having an upper end pivotally connected with a respective one of the two opposite ends of the adjustable panel by one of two second pivot members and having a mediate portion a lower end formed with a sliding slot pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts of the main body by one of two third pivot members. Each of the two connecting plates has a lower end provided with a stop boss and has a side provided with a limit bar. The foldable shelf further includes two locking plates each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two third pivot members and each detachably locked onto the limit bar and the stop boss of a respective one of the two connecting plates. Each of the two locking plates has a first end formed with a first locking notch detachably locked onto the limit bar of the respective connecting plate and a second end formed with a second locking notch detachably locked onto the stop boss of the respective connecting plate. The sliding slot of each of the two connecting plates is movable on the respective third pivot member.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a rack assembly that can be folded partially.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the foldable shelf is expanded outward for use with a user and is folded when not in use so as to enhance the versatility of the rack assembly.

According to another advantage of the present invention, the foldable shelf can be folded when not in use so as to reduce the whole volume of the rack assembly.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a locally enlarged view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a foldable shelf of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a locally enlarged operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a locally enlarged operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a schematic operational view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a partially perspective view of a rack assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a partially exploded perspective view of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a stand unit of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a schematic operational view of the stand unit of the rack assembly as shown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-14, a rack assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a framework 2, and a foldable shelf 1 mounted on the framework 2.

The foldable shelf 1 includes a main body 10 provided with two upright support posts 11, an adjustable panel 12 having two opposite ends 120 each pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts 11 of the main body 10 by one of two first pivot members 150, and two connecting plates 13 each having an upper end pivotally connected with a respective one of the two opposite ends 120 of the adjustable panel 12 by one of two second pivot members 151 and having a mediate portion a lower end formed with a sliding slot 132 pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts 11 of the main body 10 by one of two third pivot members 15.

Each of the two support posts 11 of the main body 10 has an upper portion formed with a through hole 112 to allow passage of the respective first pivot member 150 and a mediate portion formed with a through bore 111 to allow passage of the respective third pivot member 15.

The adjustable panel 12 is movable between the two support posts 11 of the main body 10. Each of the two opposite ends 120 of the adjustable panel 12 has a rear portion formed with a pivot hole 121 pivotally mounted on the respective first pivot member 150 and a mediate portion formed with a pivot bore 122 pivotally mounted on the respective second pivot member 151.

Each of the two connecting plates 13 is disposed between the adjustable panel 12 and the respective support post 11 of the main body 10. The upper end of each of the two connecting plates 13 is formed with a pivot aperture 131 pivotally mounted on the respective second pivot member 151. Each of the two connecting plates 13 has a lower end provided with a stop boss 134 and has a side provided with a limit bar 133. The limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 has an elongate shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of each of the two connecting plates 13. The limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is parallel with the sliding slot 132 and is disposed between the pivot aperture 131 and the stop boss 134. The stop boss 134 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is located beneath the limit bar 133 and the sliding slot 132. The sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 has an elongate shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of each of the two connecting plates 13. The sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is disposed between the pivot aperture 131 and the stop boss 134 and is movable on the respective third pivot member 15.

The foldable shelf 1 further includes two locking plates 14 each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two third pivot members 15 and each detachably locked onto the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of a respective one of the two connecting plates 13. Each of the two locking plates 14 is disposed between the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of the respective connecting plate 13 and has a first end formed with a first locking notch 142 detachably locked onto the limit bar 133 of the respective connecting plate 13 and a second end formed with a second locking notch 143 detachably locked onto the stop boss 134 of the respective connecting plate 13. Each of the two locking plates 14 abuts the respective connecting plate 13 and has a central portion formed with a rotation hole 141 rotatably mounted on the respective third pivot member 15.

Each of the two first pivot members 150 extends through the through hole 112 of the respective support post 11 and is inserted into the respective pivot hole 121 of the adjustable panel 12.

Each of the two second pivot members 151 extends through the pivot aperture 131 of the respective connecting plate 13 and is inserted into the respective pivot bore 122 of the adjustable panel 12.

Each of the two third pivot members 15 extends through the rotation hole 141 of the respective locking plate 14 and the sliding slot 132 of the respective connecting plate 13 and is inserted into the respective through bore 111 of the respective support post 11.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-14 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, when the adjustable panel 12 is pulled outward and upward relative to the main body 10, each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved outward and upward relative to the respective support post 11 as shown in FIG. 4, and the sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved upward by guidance of the respective third pivot member 15. At this time, each of the two locking plates 14 is detached from the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of the respective connecting plate 13 so that the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of each of the two connecting plates 13 are moved upward relative to the respective locking plate 14 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In such a manner, when the sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved upward until the bottom wall of the sliding slot 132 abuts the respective third pivot member 15, the adjustable panel 12 is fully expanded outward from the main body 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 so as to unfold the foldable shelf 1 for use with a user. At this time, when the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of each of the two connecting plates 13 are moved to align with the first locking notch 142 and the second locking notch 143 of the respective locking plate 14 as shown in FIG. 6, the adjustable panel 12 is slightly pressed downward to drive each of the two connecting plates 13 to move downward so that the limit bar 133 and the stop boss 134 of each of the two connecting plates 13 are moved downward and locked in the first locking notch 142 and the second locking notch 143 of the respective locking plate 14 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and each of the two connecting plates 13 is locked by the respective locking plate 14 so as to lock the adjustable panel 12.

On the contrary, when the user wishes to fold the foldable shelf 1, the adjustable panel 12 is slightly pulled upward to drive each of the two connecting plates 13 to move upward so that the limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved upward and detached from the first locking notch 142 of the respective locking plate 14 as shown in FIG. 9. Then, the adjustable panel 12 is slightly pressed downward to drive each of the two connecting plates 13 to move downward so that the limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved downward to drive and pivot the respective locking plate 14 about the respective third pivot member 15 as shown in FIG. 10. In such a manner, the second locking notch 143 of each of the two locking plates 14 is moved to detach from the stop boss 134 of the respective connecting plate 13 as shown in FIG. 11 so that each of the two connecting plates 13 is partially unlocked from the respective locking plate 14. Then, the adjustable panel 12 is slightly pulled upward to drive each of the two connecting plates 13 to move upward so that the stop boss 134 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved upward to drive and pivot the respective locking plate 14. In such a manner, each of the two locking plates 14 is pivoted about the respective third pivot member 15 and is moved from the position as shown in FIG. 11 to the position as shown in FIG. 12. Then, the adjustable panel 12 is slightly pressed downward to drive each of the two connecting plates 13 to move downward so that the limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved downward to drive and pivot the respective locking plate 14 about the respective third pivot member 15. In such a manner, each of the two locking plates 14 is pivoted about the respective third pivot member 15 and is moved from the position as shown in FIG. 12 to the position as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Thus, each of the two locking plates 14 is inverted upside down. Then, the limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is further moved downward to drive and pivot the respective locking plate 14 about the respective third pivot member 15 so that the respective locking plate 14 is moved from the position as shown in FIG. 14 to the position as shown in FIG. 15 and is parallel with the limit bar 133 of each of the two connecting plates 13. In such a manner, each of the two connecting plates 13 is unlocked from the respective locking plate 14 so that each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved inward and downward relative to the respective support post 11, and the sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved downward by guidance of the respective third pivot member 15 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, when the sliding slot 132 of each of the two connecting plates 13 is moved downward until the top wall of the sliding slot 132 abuts the respective third pivot member 15, the adjustable panel 12 is fully folded into the main body 10 so as to fold the foldable shelf 1 when not in use.

Referring to FIGS. 15-18, the rack assembly further comprises a stand unit 3 mounted on the foldable shelf 1 to support the adjustable panel 12 of the foldable shelf 1. The stand unit 3 includes a fixing bracket 30 mounted on a bottom of the adjustable panel 12 of the foldable shelf 1, and an elastic support leg 34 pivotally mounted on the fixing bracket 30. The fixing bracket 30 has a surface formed with two opposite sliding channels 33 each having a distal end formed with a locking groove 31. The fixing bracket 30 has two opposite sides each formed with a positioning hole 32. The support leg 34 has a substantially V-shaped profile and has two lower ends 36 each movably mounted in a respective one of the two sliding channels 33 of the fixing bracket 30 and each releasably locked in the locking groove 31 of the respective sliding channel 33. Each of the two lower ends 36 of the support leg 34 has an end portion formed with a bent protrusion 35 pivotally mounted in and protruding outward from the respective positioning hole 32 of the fixing bracket 30.

Accordingly, the foldable shelf 1 is expanded outward for use with a user and is folded when not in use so as to enhance the versatility of the rack assembly. In addition, the foldable shelf 1 can be folded when not in use so as to reduce the whole volume of the rack assembly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. A rack assembly, comprising: a framework; and a foldable shelf mounted on the framework; wherein the foldable shelf includes: a main body provided with two upright support posts; an adjustable panel having two opposite ends each pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts of the main body by one of two first pivot members; and two connecting plates each having an upper end pivotally connected with a respective one of the two opposite ends of the adjustable panel by one of two second pivot members and having a mediate portion a lower end formed with a sliding slot pivotally connected with a respective one of the two support posts of the main body by one of two third pivot members.
 2. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the two connecting plates has a lower end provided with a stop boss and has a side provided with a limit bar; the foldable shelf further includes two locking plates each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the two third pivot members and each detachably locked onto the limit bar and the stop boss of a respective one of the two connecting plates.
 3. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the two locking plates has a first end formed with a first locking notch detachably locked onto the limit bar of the respective connecting plate and a second end formed with a second locking notch detachably locked onto the stop boss of the respective connecting plate.
 4. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the sliding slot of each of the two connecting plates is movable on the respective third pivot member.
 5. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the two support posts of the main body has an upper portion formed with a through hole to allow passage of the respective first pivot member; each of the two opposite ends of the adjustable panel has a rear portion formed with a pivot hole pivotally mounted on the respective first pivot member; each of the two first pivot members extends through the through hole of the respective support post and is inserted into the respective pivot hole of the adjustable panel.
 6. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the two opposite ends of the adjustable panel has a mediate portion formed with a pivot bore pivotally mounted on the respective second pivot member; the upper end of each of the two connecting plates is formed with a pivot aperture pivotally mounted on the respective second pivot member; each of the two second pivot members extends through the pivot aperture of the respective connecting plate and is inserted into the respective pivot bore of the adjustable panel.
 7. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the two support posts of the main body has a mediate portion formed with a through bore to allow passage of the respective third pivot member; each of the two locking plates has a central portion formed with a rotation hole rotatably mounted on the respective third pivot member; each of the two third pivot members extends through the rotation hole of the respective locking plate and the sliding slot of the respective connecting plate and is inserted into the respective through bore of the respective support post.
 8. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustable panel is movable between the two support posts of the main body.
 9. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the two connecting plates is disposed between the adjustable panel and the respective support post of the main body.
 10. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein the limit bar of each of the two connecting plates has an elongate shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of each of the two connecting plates; the sliding slot of each of the two connecting plates has an elongate shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of each of the two connecting plates.
 11. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein the limit bar of each of the two connecting plates is parallel with the sliding slot.
 12. The rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the limit bar of each of the two connecting plates is disposed between the pivot aperture and the stop boss; the stop boss of each of the two connecting plates is located beneath the limit bar and the sliding slot; the sliding slot of each of the two connecting plates is disposed between the pivot aperture and the stop boss.
 13. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the two locking plates is disposed between the limit bar and the stop boss of the respective connecting plate.
 14. The rack assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the two locking plates abuts the respective connecting plate.
 15. The rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the rack assembly further comprises a stand unit mounted on the foldable shelf to support the adjustable panel of the foldable shelf.
 16. The rack assembly of claim 15, wherein the stand unit includes: a fixing bracket mounted on a bottom of the adjustable panel of the foldable shelf; and an elastic support leg pivotally mounted on the fixing bracket.
 17. The rack assembly of claim 16, wherein the fixing bracket has a surface formed with two opposite sliding channels each having a distal end formed with a locking groove; the support leg has two lower ends each movably mounted in a respective one of the two sliding channels of the fixing bracket and each releasably locked in the locking groove of the respective sliding channel.
 18. The rack assembly of claim 17, wherein the fixing bracket has two opposite sides each formed with a positioning hole; each of the two lower ends of the support leg has an end portion formed with a bent protrusion pivotally mounted in and protruding outward from the respective positioning hole of the fixing bracket.
 19. The rack assembly of claim 17, wherein the support leg has a substantially V-shaped profile. 